Joshuasz28

I am wondering what the biggest pros and cons are to wrapping headers. I'm putting a set of longtubes on my 02 Z28 and want to do what's best for the cars performance. Thanks.

dreadpirateroberts

iTrader: (1)

i run wrapped stainless headers on my weekend car, and i would not recommend it on a daily. get them coated.

if anything leaks or spills on them, it smokes for days and is a bit of a fire hazard.

the heat retention causes metal loss in the header. it's not so bad with a stainless header, but a mild steel header will deteriorate at a good pace.

there's little performance benefit unless it's for a turbo.

Matt_ws6

Like said above, it's not really worth the hassle unless you have forced induction.

AnotherWs6

iTrader: (17)

I remember when header wrap got big, it was the trick of the month for a while. Supposed to keep heat in therefor keeping exhaust gas velocity up. Allegedly worth a few HP. Who knows?

farmington

iTrader: (14)

I have stainless ebay headers on my car that I bought used and installed about 7 years ago. still look like they did the day I put them on. no wrap.

Chris Paveglio

iTrader: (2)

I vote for coating them. It leaves more room in the engine bay, and they do seem to cool off pretty quickly.

wannafbody

iTrader: (2)

I have coated Hookers and they are beginning to rust but then again, so did the stock cast manifolds.

G Atsma

Wrapping mild steel headers will rot them in no time.

00pooterSS

iTrader: (40)

It'll help keep kinetic energy up which helps with a turbo, but that's only on the entry side of the turbo and the exhaust housing. I don't think it does anything for N/A exhaust. Scavenging, velocity, balanced waves.. things like that help N/A motors. The wrap is probably just snake oil when it comes to N/A exhaust.

To the OP, I wouldn't wrap them.

1bdbrd

iTrader: (12)

I have never experienced a coating that won't come off within a few years of driving. Doesn't matter the brand, they all seem to fail within a couple years.

I am considering wrapping my next set to cut down on the typical header noise plus to help keep things cooler under the hood. But I don't drive my car in the winter or really even if it rains so that should help the headers last longer with the wrap.

Jimbo1367

They will crack after time too.

G Atsma

NO doubt! Nothing but bad.....

big hammer

I’d imagine that wrap could hurt on an NA motor if the Cam has a lot of overlap

G Atsma

Not at all disagreeing, but how so?